Opening Remarks by Under Secretary Marisa Lago at Women in Manufacturing Panel at 2024 SelectUSA Investment Summit - June 24

National Harbor, MD
June 24, 2024

As Prepared

Good morning, everyone. I’m so thrilled to moderate this all-star panel of women in manufacturing.

We love numbers at the U.S. Department of Commerce, so I’ll start with a few to ground today’s discussion: women currently represent only about 30 percent of the manufacturing workforce and a quarter of management positions in the United States. We’ve got to do better. The U.S. manufacturing industry — like many of the industries that are represented at this week’s SelectUSA Investment Summit — still has considerable progress to make.

But, the three women on today’s panel are such inspiring role models for what we can achieve by doubling down on gender equity and by promoting opportunities for women to lead.

Across the Commerce Department, with the phenomenal leadership of Secretary Gina Raimondo, equity and inclusive economic opportunity lie at the heart of everything that we do. And, before we dive into the manufacturing industry in particular, I’ll stress that this laser focus on equity extends well beyond manufacturing.

For example, Secretary Raimondo launched the Million Women in Construction initiative in 2022, recognizing that women comprise only about 11 percent of the construction industry and four percent of workers in skilled trades — even though these jobs are some of the highest-paying for workers without a college degree. About one million women currently work in construction, and the Commerce Department’s goal is to double that number over the next decade.

Another exciting Commerce Department program is called Select Global Women in Tech, which we feature every year at this SelectUSA Investment Summit. Since being inaugurated in 2021, the program has assisted over 170 women tech entrepreneurs from over 45 countries, connecting them with opportunities to start or expand operations here in the United States.

And, later this week, the Commerce Department will be hosting its first-ever National Childcare Innovation Summit. By emphasizing the vital role of childcare as essential economic infrastructure that benefits businesses and workers alike, the Childcare Innovation Summit will place affordable, high-quality childcare at the forefront of the business and economic agenda.

Now, turning to today’s focus on the manufacturing industry, these three outstanding women come from global manufacturing companies that represent a wide array of sectors — from biotechnology, to chemicals, to consumer electronics, to electric vehicle batteries, to solar panels, and to both food and non-food packaging.

The first panelist is Megan Lee, who serves as Chairwoman and CEO of the Panasonic Corporation of North America. Megan leads the company’s growth strategy and spearheads new business initiatives, including the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy in both the United States and Japan. Megan also served as acting Board Chair for the Panasonic Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing equity in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics education — music to my ears as a STEAM girl, who began my professional life by studying physics.

The second panelist is Beatrix Praeceptor, who serves as CEO of Greiner Packaging, where she’s managed the packaging division of the international plastics and foam company since May 2023. Born in Vienna and raised in Canada and Italy, Beatrix is a perfect example of a truly international leader.

And, last but certainly not least, Maike Asmussen s Chief Political Officer of Merck KGaA in Darmstadt, Germany. In this role, she advises the CEO and Executive Board on decision-making related to geopolitical and global political challenges — a fitting role that builds on her prior experience covering European policy within the German government.